This is a massive top-of-the-table clash in the Italian league.

Nov 30, 2015 17:25 IST

The Italian league hosts a massive top-of-the-table clash featuring Napoli and Inter Milan on Monday. The 18-time Serie A champions, currently leaders in the Italian league, travel to the Stadio San Paolo in Napoli to take on the home side in their 14th game of the season.

Inter are currently on 30 points, while Napoli stay second on 28 points. Roberto Mancini's side might have had a tremendous start to their season with just a single loss so far, but they have to be wary of teams like Napoli, Fiorentina, and Roma, who are bound to give them a lot of competition for the title.

Napoli, too, have just one loss in their league campaign this time, and have as many as five wins from their previous six games in the Serie A. The visitors, meanwhile, have four wins from their previous six games.

It might only be the first half of the season, but a good start to the campaign can work wonders for the team at the top, and Inter know that. Picking up all the three points and making a memorable trip to Naples is topmost on the mind of the club.

The game also gives Mancini plenty of options to find the problems still lingering in his side. "We have many flaws that need to be corrected, even though being first in November makes me happy for the lads," said the Inter Milan coach ahead of the match. "Monday won't be decisive. Not for us and not for them. Things will be decided further ahead," said Mancini.

Napoli and Inter also rule the roost when conceding the lowest goals in the league is concerned. While Napoli have conceded just eight goals in 13 games this season, Mancini's side have conceded just seven goals.

Inter will be looking to keep their defensive acumen this season intact in this game as well, but have to be wary of Napoli star striker Gonzalo Higuain, who has 10 goals already in Serie A this season.

The 27-year-old Argentine goalpoacher is keen to continuing his exploits up front in the attack, to guide his side to the coveted title at the end of the season.

"It's only right to dream and anyone who says they're not dreaming of the Scudetto [Serie A title] is lying," Higuain told Corriere della Sera. "At the same time, what the coach [Maurizio Sarri] says is also true, we have to take it one game at a time."

Asked about Inter's plans to stop Higuain from scoring in the game, Mancini was at his usual best: "There will come a game in which (Higuain) doesn't score, and who knows? It may well be against us," the former Manchester City coach stated.